Bringing Good Vibrations to Montrose

Music review: Holy Holy play Ziggy Stardust

Holy Holy are a bespoke kind of tribute band, honouring David Bowie’s stellar legacy from an insider perspective. Formed by original Spiders from Mars drummer Woody Woodmansey, with Bowie’s producer and wingman Tony Visconti as a featured guest, they sensibly aim for respectful revisiting rather than slavish recreation, capturing the crunch and swagger which has long since become common currency for low-slung rock’n’roll.

Music review: Belle and Sebastian

Closing out the fourth BBC 6 Music Festival on a rare, delightfully sunny day in Glasgow, hometown indie-pop outfit Belle and Sebastian brought all the warmth and spirited charm you’d expect to a show that climaxed with Stuart Murdoch et al surrounded by fans dancing on stage around them.

Curtis channels Ol’ Blue Eyes

The timeless cool of Frank Sinatra met the robust swing of the Count Basie Orchestra on the classic album, ‘Sinatra at the Sands’ and it has remained a beloved classic ever since, the perfect marriage of old-school pop and big band jazz.

Amy Macdonald: I want to write songs that mean something

Billy Bragg’s American obsession

Like many a British musician before him, Billy Bragg, bard of Barking, singer songwriter, political activist, and musical historian has made no secret of his obsession with the songs and the mythology of the Americas, not least those of his artistic and philosophical forebear Woody Guthrie. With his friend and collaborator, US singer songwriter Joe Henry, he has made an album that focuses on the transformative part the railroad played in disseminating the songs that gave birth to the rock’n’roll era.

Reformed Astrid back in the mix

Edith Bowman on how to enjoy music festivals

If music festivals conjure up images of rank toilets, waterlogged tents and muddy wellies, then maybe you’re missing the main act. So says festival veteran and former Radio 1 DJ Edith Bowman, who has watched more than 1,500 bands play at more than 80 festivals over the last 20 years – and still gets as excited as ever about them.